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Developer Tools · head to head

Eclipse IDE vs Presto

Eclipse IDE logo

Eclipse IDE

Developer Tools

Open-source, extensible IDE historically centered on Java development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Presto logo

Presto

Databases

The Meta-lineage distributed SQL query engine, distinct from the Trino fork

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Eclipse IDE startup time and UI responsiveness lag behind newer editors like VS Code.; Presto the original creators and most of the active contributor base left for Trino in 2020, so Presto has the smaller community, fewer connectors and slower feature delivery of the two branches.
  • They diverge on capability: Eclipse IDE covers Java Development Tools (JDT), Presto covers Federated querying.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eclipse IDE and Presto actually diverge.

Attributes where Eclipse IDE and Presto differ
AttributeEclipse IDEPresto
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee
Platformswindows, mac, linuxLinux, Docker, Kubernetes
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDatabases
Founded2001Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Eclipse IDE

  • Java Development Tools (JDT)
  • Plugin Architecture
  • Git Integration
  • Refactoring Tools
  • Workspace and Project Management

Only in Presto

  • Federated querying
  • In-memory execution
  • Open table format support
  • Presto C++ workers
  • ANSI SQL
  • Pluggable connectors

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Eclipse IDE

  • Enterprise Java application developmentnot Presto
  • Academic and educational programming coursesnot Presto
  • Extending the IDE for niche languages via pluginsnot Presto
  • Multi-module builds with Maven or Gradlenot Presto

Presto

  • An existing PrestoDB estate that needs continued upgrades rather than a migration to Trinonot Eclipse IDE
  • A team buying IBM watsonx.data, where Presto is the underlying query enginenot Eclipse IDE
  • Joining a Hive or Iceberg lake to an operational PostgreSQL database in one query without an ETL stepnot Eclipse IDE
  • Very large scale interactive SQL where the Meta-tested branch is a specific requirementnot Eclipse IDE

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Eclipse IDE

  • Startup time and UI responsiveness lag behind newer editors like VS Code.
  • Plugin quality and compatibility can be inconsistent across versions.
  • Modern language support (e.g. for web frameworks) is weaker than dedicated tools.
  • Configuration and workspace setup has a steeper learning curve for newcomers.

Presto

  • The original creators and most of the active contributor base left for Trino in 2020, so Presto has the smaller community, fewer connectors and slower feature delivery of the two branches.
  • Documentation, tutorials and Stack Overflow answers for the two projects are frequently mixed up, and a solution written for Trino often does not apply, which costs real debugging time.
  • It is a query engine with no storage of its own, so query performance is dictated by your file layout, partitioning and statistics, and a badly organised lake makes Presto look slow.
  • Memory-bound execution means a single large join can fail the whole query rather than spilling gracefully, and tuning cluster memory settings is a persistent operational chore.
  • Commercial support has consolidated into IBM since the Ahana acquisition, so the independent vendor market that once existed around Presto is largely gone.

Pricing, plan by plan

Eclipse IDE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full IDE and plugin ecosystem, no paid tiers

Presto

Free
  • PrestoFree
    • Apache 2.0 licence
    • Presto Foundation governance under the Linux Foundation
    • No node or query limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Eclipse IDE if

  • You need java development tools (jdt).
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want plugin architecture.
Eclipse IDE review

Choose Presto if

  • You need federated querying.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want in-memory execution.
Presto review

Questions people ask

Is Eclipse IDE or Presto better?
Neither clearly leads. Eclipse IDE starts at Free and Presto at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eclipse IDE or Presto?
Eclipse IDE starts at Free and Presto at Free.
Does Eclipse IDE or Presto run on more platforms?
Eclipse IDE runs on windows, mac, linux. Presto runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Eclipse IDE for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Eclipse IDE best used for?
Eclipse IDE is most often used for enterprise java application development, academic and educational programming courses, extending the ide for niche languages via plugins, multi-module builds with maven or gradle. Of those, enterprise java application development and academic and educational programming courses are not what Presto is typically brought in for.
What can Eclipse IDE do that Presto cannot?
Eclipse IDE covers Java Development Tools (JDT), Plugin Architecture, Git Integration, Refactoring Tools. Presto covers Federated querying, In-memory execution, Open table format support, Presto C++ workers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eclipse IDE: Is Eclipse IDE free to use, including commercially?

Yes, Eclipse is released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0, a free and open-source license that permits commercial use with no purchase required.

Source
Presto: Is this Presto or Trino?

This is PrestoDB, the branch that stayed at Facebook and moved to the Linux Foundation. Trino is the 2020 fork by the original creators.

Eclipse IDE: How do I extend Eclipse with plugins?

Extensions are installed from the Eclipse Marketplace, which hosts over 1,300 solutions spanning tools, languages, IoT support, and RCP applications, using drag-and-drop installation via the Marketplace Client.

Source
Presto: Which should I choose for a new project?

Trino, in most cases. It has the larger community, more connectors and more commercial options.

Eclipse IDE: What license do Eclipse Marketplace plugins use?

Marketplace listings can be filtered by license type, including EPL, GPL, Apache 2.0, and MIT, since individual plugin authors choose their own licensing terms.

Source
Presto: Who maintains Presto now?

Principally Meta, Uber and IBM, which acquired the Presto vendor Ahana in 2023.

Eclipse IDE: Where can I get help with Eclipse?

Support channels include community forums, project office hours, and a contact page maintained by the Eclipse Foundation, in addition to the official Eclipse Platform help documentation.

Source
Presto: Is it still actively released?

Yes, releases continue on a regular cadence under the Presto Foundation.

Eclipse IDE: Is Eclipse limited to Java development?

No, while Eclipse's Java Development Tools are its best-known feature, the plugin architecture and marketplace extend it to C/C++, PHP, JavaScript, and many other languages.

Source
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